Ready Player One: A dynamic adventure

Ready Player One: A dynamic adventure

If you’ve ever wanted to get a fairly realistic idea of what our near future would look like, Steven Spielberg’s new adaptation of popular young adult novel, Ready Player One, is your best bet.

Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes

Set in 2044, viewers are introduced to a world where global warming and overpopulation have become so bad that people live in stacked and cramped trailers and battle extreme pollution. To escape the dire conditions of the real world, citizens turn to a virtual world called the OASIS.

The OASIS is a virtual reality game created by James Halliday. The game allows people to escape and immerse themselves fully into a virtual society where they can interact with other players, play games and earn coins.

Before he died, James Halliday (Rylance), the creator of OASIS, announced that he had hidden three keys in his virtual reality game. The idea was that whoever found those three keys first, would unlock the Easter egg and inherit his entire fortune as well as control of OASIS.

Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes

The story, based on Earnest Cline’s novel, follows Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) and his friends, Aech (Lena Waithe), brothers Sho (Philip Zhao) and Daito (Win Morisaki) and Art3mis (Olivia Cooke) as they try to find this Easter egg before the evil IOI company does.

When it comes to Steven Spielberg, I trust everything he puts out. Ready Player One was, thankfully, no exception. The dynamic screenplay and intricate details certainly reinforced Spielberg as one of the best directors out there.

The film itself presents a glorious mix of drama, action, romance and humour all in one. It would be hard to find an audience that this movie does not please.

In an ode to millennials, Spielberg infuses many pop culture references into the film. From Minecraft to recreating The Shining, viewers will enjoy spotting their favourites in the movie.

Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes

While the film’s overarching message is that we need to disconnect and spend time really living in the real world, Spielberg fails in making us believe that reality truly is better. He turns the OASIS into this extremely glamorous and action-packed place so that every time we are pulled back into reality, there is a sense of disappointment to some extent. I mean, who can believe that reality is better when the OASIS has epic races that involve dinosaurs and giant gorillas?

Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes

The only part of the film that I found weak was the romance between Samantha (Art3mis) and Wade. Their relationship felt very forced especially at the beginning and it was highly unrealistic considering how quickly they fell in love. However, the equal balance of love and friendship in their relationship as the managed to salvage a situation that would have been altogether very cringe.

So if you’re looking for a light-hearted film which packs a punch, Ready Player One opens in theatres on 29th March.

Neon Lights festival returns for a three-day celebration of the best indie acts

Singapore’s biggest indie music festival, Neon Lights, is back for a third instalment this November with a stacked line-up spanning three days. The festival returns to Fort Canning Park from November 9 to November 11, complete with headline acts and indie legends from all around the world.

Photo: Neon Lights

After successful runs in 2015 and 2016, local indie fans were left disappointed when Neon Lights took a break last year. The organisers made a promise the festival would return in full strength in 2018 and that it did. Festival director Declan Forde said they were thrilled to be returning and had put a lot of thought into the line-up to ensure both quality and diversity so everyone could enjoy the festival to the fullest.

Photo: Neon Lights

Kicking things off on November 9 is Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna who will be serenading the crowd in her first public performance in over a year.

Neon Lights runs November 9 to November 11, 6pm to 1030pm on November 9 and 2pm to 1030pm on November 10 and 11. Individual day tickets start from $99 for adults and $25 for children and can be purchased via the website or SISTIC.

Things to do this weekend in Singapore (21 Sept – 23 Sept)

This week’s an exciting one. We’ve got a 2000-2018 dance party, art exhibitions (some all the way till 3am) and something for all you tea-lovers out there. With these many options on your plate, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

1. Art After Dark x 6th Anniversary Celebrations (21 Sept)

Photo Credits: Gillman Barracks

Celebrate Gillman Barracks’ 6th anniversary with another run of their Art After Dark! It’s the perfect way to kick off your weekend – there’ll be live performances, interactive art experiences and delicious food served all the way till 3am.

Photo Credits: Park Bench Deli

When you’re done exploring the two new gallery openings presented by Ota Fine Arts and Yavuz Gallery, or traversed through our very own Nguan’s photography, you can rock out to the tunes of Pleasantry and The Pinholes. Definitely grab that late night bite from the likes of Park Bench Deli and Handlebar.

Address: Gillman Barracks, 9 Lock Road, Singapore 108937

Time: 7pm onwards

Ticket pricing: Free

2. Singapore Tea Festival 2018 (21 Sept – 23 Sept)

Photo Credits: Singapore Tea Festival

Quench your thirst with this year’s comeback of Singapore Tea Festival. With more than a hundred blends of tea, 30 tea and tea-related brands, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

There’ll even be dialogues and workshops where you’ll about learn skills such as modern kombucha making from industry leaders. To redeem a complimentary Yixing Purple Clay glazed porcelain cup, all you’ve got to do is register at teapasar’s booth!

Address: ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801

Time: Fri: 3PM-10PM, Sat & Sun: 10AM-10PM

Ticket pricing: Free

3. V A N I T A S Group Art Exhibition (21 Sept – 23 Sept)

Photo Credits: Sarah Thursday Illustrations

This brings a group of talented women into the spotlight. Featuring six independent female artists, VANITAS is a group show which explores themes like mortality, the transience of life and the futility of pleasure.

Be wowed by the dark art styles of @sarahthursday, @erikartoon, @mothhead_, @peithedragon, @yelselogy and @sanatoriium. Remember to bring some spare cash to purchase some of their merch!

4. Xiao Kopitiam #2 (22 Sept)

Photo Credits: 21Moonstone

Pop by this reimagined kopitiam for maybe the chillest weekend you’ve had in a while.

Photo Credits: 21Moonstone

Dig into LAD & DAD’s comfort British fare – think bangers & mash and beef stew (we can attest to the amazingness of this dish), get a intricate henna design from the famous @henn.drawn or just grab a personalised haiku at the typewriter.

5. The Passion Pop-Up (22 Sept)

Support your local businesses and female entrepreneurship at this pop-up. Try out delicious treats from That Vegan Cake, juicy burgers from Hustle Co and more.

The Passion Panel, filled with names like Isabel Lee of An Acai Affair and Beckie Liu of Haikini,

Photo Credits: Hustle Co

will delve into how they sparked off their passion for entrepreneurship, developing it into an actual business. It’s not all work, though. Play beer pong or sign up for a HIIT session with Charity Chan, a personal trainer!

Address: 52 Craig Road, Singapore 089690

Time: 11AM – 4PM

Ticket pricing: Free

6. High School Never Ends (22 Sept)

Photo Credits: HopHeads

Blast it back to your childhood or travel all the way to the present at HopHeads’ latest escapade, featuring 2000s-2018 electronic dance pop and the hottest radio hits.

Their parties are so popular that all their online tickets have been sold out. Your best bet is to head straight to the door for a ticket, then straight into the most nostalgic night of your life.

Tokidoki x River Safari: A Whale of a Time Awaits

What do you call something that provides comfort, is pleasant to have and is part of a larger establishment? A manatee (amenity)!

Jokes aside, manatees are the co-stars of the event at River Safari this September, as tokidoki’s Mermicorno characters are making a splash at Asia’s first and only river-themed wildlife park.

Designed by Simone Legno, the characters of the internationally recognised lifestyle brand are featured within the park as 10 life-sized sculptures, including the three newest members Submarino, Jade and Fortuna.

Hop on the Mermicorno x River Safari Trail and win exclusive, limited-edition tokidoki x River Safari enamel pins. All you have to do is answer two questions that are rotated each week. (they’re really easy, but I shan’t reveal them so as to not take away your fun.) Unfortunately, three of the five weeks have passed — but you still have the chance to bring Cerulean (week 4) and Jade (week 5) home. They run out of stock very quickly, so be sure to get there early!

Joining Mermicorno and Manatee are mermaids, whose graceful performances and bubbly interactions in the aquarium are not to be missed. Watch as they swim elegantly among the manatees, nature’s very own mermaids of myth.

Make sure you and your loved ones catch a photo op with Canola, our lovable mascot. Fun fact: Canola, the actual manatee and animal icon of River Safari, just turned four in August!

Meet our Manatee Mascot

Venue: River Safari Entrance
Timings: 10:00am & 4:30am

Other activities include Colour Us Cute at the Mermicorno meets Manatee colouring wall, River Trail Encounters, where the park guides will share stories about the manatees along with their quirks and habits, and Amazing Encounters Await, granting you the opportunity to get up close in behind-the-scenes tours, Manatee Mania and Amazing Amazonia.

At the end of your enjoyable day out, don’t forget to grab tokidoki collectibles such as plushies, key chains and blindboxes from the River Safari retail store to complete your Mermicorno experience!

There’s also an Instagram contest giveaway — all you have to do is share your most creative posts tagged #tokidoki and #RiverSafari on your public Instagram account for a chance to win a Manatee Mania tour and River Safari admission tickets for 2 adults worth $300.